Published: Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 3:46 a.m.

Like millions of people, Jesse Stephenson commutes to work by bicycle – sort of. And like millions of other people, he'll also use a car to get to work – kind of.

Most days, Stephenson does both, bopping around the Port City in the e-fox, a self-designed hybrid bicycle/electric car that roughly resembles a Volkswagen Beetle perched atop a large tricycle.

"I get people stopping and asking a lot of questions," he said. "I also get some weird looks. I get both."

Not that he minds – the exposure is good for business. Four weeks ago, Stephenson with his wife, Candy, launched Nu Way 2 Commute, a Wilmington business dedicated to manufacturing and selling the e-fox. The goal, he said, is to help bridge the gap between bicycles and cars, offering customers a greener, less expensive way to get around town while also getting in shape.

The concept of a bike/car hybrid has been around for at least 40 years, in various forms. The idea for the e-fox sparked when the Stephensons saw a different type of hybrid – traditionally known as a velomobile – online, and thought the vehicle, with a few tweaks, could be a good fit for residents in the Wilmington area.

"We like to work out together, to run, and she really likes to bike. That really started it," Stephenson said. "Few people know how bike-friendly Wilmington really is. There's been a lot of money put into the trails, and with those, you can get around just about everywhere."

The e-fox is built on a recumbent bicycle, topped with a neon orange fiberglass car-shaped shell, complete with windshield. The windows are open holes, though the vehicle comes with Velcro rain doors, and the trunk holds up to 100 pounds of cargo. The e-fox can be powered solely by pedaling, but is also outfitted with an electric motor. Drivers start the vehicle by pushing a button, which also powers a console that records distance and speed. Top velocity is about 20 mph, Stephenson said.

"It's a little faster if you pedal at the same time," he said. "It will go about 30 miles on a single charge, depending on how much you pedal. It's about the same effort as a beach cruiser."

The e-fox is classified as a bicycle, so drivers don't need a special license to drive it. That categorization also means it can go wherever bicycles go, Stephenson said.

"It comes with turn signals, headlights and brake lights, but it doesn't have to be licensed," he said. "You can ride it on bike paths."

The e-fox has a base price of $4,850, with optional add-ons, including a trailer, available for purchase. Thus far, Stephenson has one prototype, and has started an online kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the business. Orders are built on-site from scratch and should take between three and four weeks to complete.

"There's been a lot of interest. A couple people are saying they're going to buy, but we haven't had any actual sales yet," he said. "If we start getting the sales, it would keep me busy."

<p>Like millions of people, Jesse Stephenson commutes to work by bicycle – sort of. And like millions of other people, he'll also use a car to get to work – kind of.</p><p>Most days, Stephenson does both, bopping around the Port City in the e-fox, a self-designed hybrid bicycle/electric car that roughly resembles a Volkswagen Beetle perched atop a large tricycle.</p><p>"I get people stopping and asking a lot of questions," he said. "I also get some weird looks. I get both."</p><p>Not that he minds – the exposure is good for business. Four weeks ago, Stephenson with his wife, Candy, launched Nu Way 2 Commute, a Wilmington business dedicated to manufacturing and selling the e-fox. The goal, he said, is to help bridge the gap between bicycles and cars, offering customers a greener, less expensive way to get around town while also getting in shape.</p><p>The concept of a bike/car hybrid has been around for at least 40 years, in various forms. The idea for the e-fox sparked when the Stephensons saw a different type of hybrid – traditionally known as a velomobile – online, and thought the vehicle, with a few tweaks, could be a good fit for residents in the Wilmington area.</p><p>"We like to work out together, to run, and she really likes to bike. That really started it," Stephenson said. "Few people know how bike-friendly Wilmington really is. There's been a lot of money put into the trails, and with those, you can get around just about everywhere."</p><p>The e-fox is built on a recumbent bicycle, topped with a neon orange fiberglass car-shaped shell, complete with windshield. The windows are open holes, though the vehicle comes with Velcro rain doors, and the trunk holds up to 100 pounds of cargo. The e-fox can be powered solely by pedaling, but is also outfitted with an electric motor. Drivers start the vehicle by pushing a button, which also powers a console that records distance and speed. Top velocity is about 20 mph, Stephenson said.</p><p>"It's a little faster if you pedal at the same time," he said. "It will go about 30 miles on a single charge, depending on how much you pedal. It's about the same effort as a beach cruiser."</p><p>The e-fox is classified as a bicycle, so drivers don't need a special license to drive it. That categorization also means it can go wherever bicycles go, Stephenson said.</p><p>"It comes with turn signals, headlights and brake lights, but it doesn't have to be licensed," he said. "You can ride it on bike paths."</p><p>The e-fox has a base price of $4,850, with optional add-ons, including a trailer, available for purchase. Thus far, Stephenson has one prototype, and has started an online kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the business. Orders are built on-site from scratch and should take between three and four weeks to complete.</p><p>"There's been a lot of interest. A couple people are saying they're going to buy, but we haven't had any actual sales yet," he said. "If we start getting the sales, it would keep me busy."</p><p><i></p><p>Kate Elizabeth Queram: 343-2217</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @kate_goes_bleu</i></p>